Under starter’s orders at Doncaster

With five months yet to go before its official re-opening, Doncaster Racecourse Exhibition and Conference Centre is already attracting healthy interest among events organisers. Aside from its usual work at the venue itself the team enjoyed a highly successful few days at Confex at the end of February.

“We gathered a remarkable number of enquiries across all three show days,” says business development manager, Judith Day. “Given that the new complex does not open for business until September, there is real interest in using the totally new facilities being provided within our £32 million development.”

The upgraded venue will include 3,500 sq m of purpose-built exhibition space, conference accommodation for up to 2,000 delegates, and brand new catering services.

“Exhibition organisers who held events at the racecourse, before the current redevelopment, have shown a lot of interest in returning,” continues Day. “We have also been very encouraged to hear from planners specialising in product launches, "conferences":http://www.venues.org.uk/searches/conference_centres_venues.asp and "meetings":http://www.venues.org.uk/searches/london_meeting_rooms_venues.asp. It seems that the message about the genuine versatility being offered by the new centre, is getting through to more and more decision makers. It’s also pleasing to know we have just been accepted into membership of the Association of Exhibition Venues – even though we still have some months to go before re-opening.”